Range finder for photographic purposes



Jan. 15, 1935. 'E. WANDERSLEB RANGEFINDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES Filed April 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q Ii lllllllllllllilllllb Fig. 5

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'- Jan- 15, 3 E. WANDERSL'EB 1,987,765

R ANGBP'IND ER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES Filed April 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 15, 1935 Q I UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE asses rmna alggzggoroomrmc I Ernst Wanderaleb,'Jena, Germany, MIMI t0 the firm Carl Zeiss, Germany Application April 0, ms, Serial neluiass In Germany April 8, 1982 4 Claims. (0}. 05-44) I have filed an application in Germany, April ference between an object point of the focusing 6, 1932: plane of the photographic objective and an ob Of late, rangeflnders are frequently used with ject point whichis outside this plane and whose a view to facilitating the determination of the image in the image planeof the objective is a 5 adjustment a photographic objective is to be circle of dispersion equal to'the greatest circle a.

given relatively to the light-sensitive layer in still admitting sharp images. Asthe size of the order to obtain a sharp image of an object. As circles of dispersion and, consequently, the is well known, apart from the imaging errors parallactic angle difference, depend upon the depending upon the properties of the objecsize of the diaphragm aperture of the objective, only such objects may be sharply reprotive, the rangefinder may be so constructed that 10.. duced simultaneously on a plane layer at right an observer sees one of a plurality of marks, angles to the axis of the objective which lie each of these marks corresponding to adifferent in a plane at right angles to the axis of the diaphragm aperture. On account of the paralobjective, namely in the focusing plane, all lactic angle difference depending on the focal points that lie in front or in the rear of the length of the objective, one mark may be pro- 15- focusing plane being reproduced more or less vided for each focal length. Naturally, a mark' unsharply', that is to say as greater or smaller system of any suitable kind may be used incircles of dispersion. when the diameter of stead of one mark. The mark may be disthe circles of dispersion remains below a definite posed in the image field of the rangeilnder admissible limit, for instance the limit deteritself, or it may be imaged in this image field 20' mined by the visual power of the human eye by optical means. Each object space is conviewing the image, images of such points outveniently provided with at least two marks.

side the focusing plane may also be regarded as These marks, which are disposed on either side practically sharp. To the greatest circle of disof the focusing plane, provide an information as persion that may still be regarded as a sharp to the depth of the sharply imaged object space 215v image of a point is coordinated a parallactic in front of and behind the focusing plane. In angle diflerence in the rangeflnder, this difl'erthis case, the rangeflnder is generally equipped ence being independent of the range to be adalso with another mark, thatis to say, a mark justed when the focal length and the diaphragm for the determination of the range of the focusaperture of the objective are not varied. An ing plane itself. The mark belonging to the ad- 30- object point outside the focusing plane is aljusting plane may be dispensed with when two ways reproduced as the greatest admissible cirmarks are at disposalfor'the determination of cle of dispersion when its parallactic angle difthe range of the depth of"'sharpness. Reference, relative to the corresponding point of versely, the .marks'for the determination of the the focusing plane, is equal to the greatest adrange of the depth of sharpness may be dis- 35- missible parallactic angle difference independpensed with when the mark belonging tothe ently of the distance of thefocusing plane. The focusing plane is connected with a scale dirange difference of the said two object points or, vided to represent ranges in such a manner that in other words, the depth of the object space two division lines at the sides of a division 40 whose points are still reproduced sharply, is the line coordinated to the focusing plane delimit 40 greater the greater the distance of the focusing the range of depth sharpness corresponding to plane from the objective. a definite diaphragm aperture for the adjusted The invention is based on the idea of dedistance, and that the next two lines delimit termining by means of the rangeflnder not only .a depth sharpness corresponding to another the distance of the. focusing plane from the diaphragm aperture, lzc. camera but, at the same time, also the limits When adjusting a monocular self-contained of the range in the object space all object points base rangeflnder to a point in the object space, of which are still sharply imaged on the light-' two images of allpoints lying in front or in the sensitive layer by the objective adjusted to the rear of the plane of the adjusted point will be focusing plane. Owing to 'what has been said produced in the field of view of the rangefinder,

hereinbefore, the independence ofthe para'llacthese images appearing to be displaced relatic an difference from the range may be used tively to each other in the direction of the rangey Provid in the image field of the range-' finder base at a definite distance, the parallax.

finder, according to the invention, at least one All points whose images have equal parallax visible mark indicating the parallactic angle dlfhave an equal parallactic angle diflerence rela- 55 tive to the adjusted object point. For this reason it is advisable to so construct monocular rangefinders for photographic purposes that the mark indicates a straight line which is parallel to the rangefinder base and corresponds to the greatest parallax the two images of an object point still sharply reproduced by the objective may have in the image field of the rangefinder' adjusted'to the focusing plane of the objective. The mark may be, for instance, a line mark distinctly restricted with respect to ,length or a point mark represented by two short lines or circles.

In stereoscopic rangefinders, the images of the object space are composed of stereoscopic images of the different image points due to stereoscopic combination of the two object-point images appearing in the image field of the ocular. To focus an object point by means of a rangefinder of this kind so as to determine the distance of this point from the camera, the two ocularimage fields are provided as a rule with half-images which, when stereoscopically combined, represent a mark at a definite apparent distance. If an object point is at an equal apparent distance, its real distance is known. To determine a definite parallactic angle difference relatively to this object point, a stereoscopic rangefinder is provided with a stereoscopic mark representing this angle difierence,

' the said mark consisting of two half-images that are visible in the image fields of the two oculars, respectively, and lie in the rangefinder, adjusted to the focusing plane of the objective, at the apparent distance of an object point reproduced by the objective as the greatest admissible circle of dispersion. Also in this kind of rangeflnders, at least one mark each may be provided for the object spaces at either side of the focusing plane.

As is well known, the objectives of photographic cameras are generally provided with diaphragms permitting to reduce the aperture ratio of the objectives. When giving the diameter of the greatest admissible circle of dispersion always one and the same length, not only the aperture ratio but also the appertaining parallactic angle difierence may be varied. For this reason it is advisable to construct the mark in monocular as well as in stereoscopic rangeflnders in such a manner that part of the same is so displaceable in the image field that the parallactic angle corresponding to the size of the mark is variable, if it is not preferred to provide one mark for each diaphragm aperture. Finally, a photographic camera provided with a rangefinder of this kind, and whose objective has an adjustable diaphragm, may be so improved that .the displaceable part of the mark is coupled to the diaphragm in such a way that the mark indicates that range of depth sharpness for the objective which corresponds to the adjusted diaphragm aperture.

, The accompanying drawings represent two constructional examples of the invention. Figure 1 shows schematically the optical parts of a stereoscopic rangefinder according to the first example. Figures 2 and 3 represent the images which an observer sees when looking into the left and the right ocular of the rangefinder, respectively. Figures 4 and 5 show the corresponding images of another constructional form of the first example. Figures 6 and 7 represent in plan the second constructional example, a monocular rangefinder in which the images cover each other, Figure 6 illustrating a top view and Figure 7 a section. Figure 8 represents on a reduced scale a side view of the objective board of a camera used in connection with the second constructional example, and Figure 9 shows this part in front view on the same scale. Figure 10 illustrates the image the view of which is offered to an observer looking into the ocular of this second constructional example.

The stereoscopic rangefinder (Figure 1) consists of two telescopes; each of which has an objective 1 and an ocular 2. In front of each objective 1 is disposed a prism 3 of a pentagonal cross sectional area, these prisms deviating at right angles the entering imaging rays by means of two reflexions. In the image planes of the objectives are disposed diaphragms 4 circularly restricting the image fields. Triangular prisms 5 provide that the imaging rays are deflected once more at right angles, that is to say into the directions of the ocular axes, these prisms 5, whose reflecting surfaces are roof surfaces, not only reversing the two sides of the imaging ray pencil but also the height, as a consequence of which the images produced by the objectives 1 and viewed through the oculars 2 acting as magnifiers are completely reversed. In close proximity to the diaphragm 4 of the telescope at the left is disposed a plano-parallel glass plate 6 that may be displaced horizontally. That surface of this glass plate 6 which faces the diaphragm plane is provided with three point half-images 7, 8', '9' (Figure 2) disposed in a horizontal line. Near the diaphragm 4 of the telescope at the right is placed a slide guide 10 in which a slide 11 may be displaced vertically. The slide 11 itself is constructed also as a slide guide and bears a slide 12 displaceable vertically. In the slide 12 is mounted a plano-parallel glass plate 13 whose surface next to the diaphragm plane has three rows of point half-images (Figure 3). Each three half-images 7", 8", and 9" of these rows lie in a horizontal line. All half-images 8" of the row in the middle lie in a vertical line.

When using the rangefinder, the half-images 8 and 8" in the middle serve for measuring the distance of the object to be photographed from the rangefinder, the stereoscopic combination of the half-images 8 and 8 producing a stereoscopic mark 8 whose apparent distance may be varied by displacing the glass plate 6 and adapted to that of the object to be photographed. The adjusted distance may be found in a known manner on a scale (which is not represented in the drawings). The half-images of each row on the glass plate 13 are conveniently equidistant. When stereoscopically combined, the exterior pairs of half-images 7', 7" and 9', 9", which lie in a horizontal line, produce another two stereoscopic marks 7 and 9, of which, according to the drawings, the mark at the left (7) seems to be nearer and the mark at the right (9) farther away from the rangefinder than the mark 8 obtained by stereo-.

scopic combination of the half-images 8', 8". The pairs of half-images 7', 7" and 9, 9" are given such positions on the glass plates 6 and 13, respectively, that, when the rangefinder is adjusted, the apparentdistances of the marks I definite diaphragm aperture. By displacing the slide 12 and glass plate 13 in the slide 11, the parallactic angle corresponding to the depth of sharpness between the exterior marks '1 and 9 and the mark 8, which is determined by the apparent range difference, may be varied. The displacements are to be effected in such a way that three half-images 7", 8", 9" and three half-images '7, 8', 9, respectively, lie in a horizontal line. Each row determined by the three half-images 'I", 8" and 9" may be coordinated to a definite admissible depth of unsharpness which is conveniently indicated in thousandths of the focal length of the objective to be used. If the depth of unsharpness is so determined as to conform to the kind of the object to be photographed, alterations of the diaphragm aperture of the objective which is to be used for an exposure may be taken into account by displacing the glass plate 13 by means of the slide 11 in the slide guide 10.

In a second constructional form of the rangefinder (Figures 4 and 5), the half-images on the glass plate 6 are short lines 7, 8 and 9 at difierent heights. Three lines are provided on the glass plate 13, and the diaphragm 4 covers all of the field of view except a strip 4' corresponding to the arrangement and the size of the half-images 7, 8, 9, the consequence being that only parts 7', 8" and 9' of the lines are visible. These parts 7", 8" and 9" correspond to the other half-images of the stereoscopic marks '7, 8 and 9. The arrangement of the lines with the half-images 'l, 6, 9" corresponds to that of the rows of half-images 7", 8" and 9" according to the first constructional form. The diiierence in height of the half-images provides that half-images that do not belong to each other may not be stereoscopically combined when using the instrument. In all other respects this constructional form is used in quite the same way as that according to the first constructional form. By displacing the glass plate 13 vertically, the distance of the half-images 7", 8" and 9" is continuously altered, contrary whereto the dis-- tances of the half-images 'l", 8" and 9" in the first constructional form can be altered only by degrees.

In addition to adjusting the diaphragm aperture of the objective, the vertical displacements of the glass plate 13 could be used also for adapting the depth measurement to the interpupillary distance of the observer's eyes, and, finally, in variations of the said constructional form of the example, they might be replaced by alterations of convergence of the two exterior lines with the half-images 7 and 9' and the two exterior rows of half-images 7" and 9", respectively.

The rangefinder according to the second constructional example, in which the images cover each other, has a housing 14 (Figures 6 and 7) the central part of which is constructed to represent a prism housing 15 and whose two ends contain one objective 16 each. In front of the objective 16 at the left, a pentagonal prism 18 is fixedly mounted in a prism housing 1'1, and

in front of the objective 16 at the right a prism holder is mounted in a prism housing 19 in such a manner as to be rotatable about a vertical axle 21, this prism holder 20 containing a pentagonal prism 22. The prism housing 15 contains a ray combining prism whose two parts 23 and 24 are cemented to each other, and in which the cemented surface 25 is semi-transparently silvered. To the prism 24 is connected a triangular prism 26 deviating the imaging rays at right angles towards above into an ocular 27 in the prism housing 15. Close to the focal plane of the objective 16 at the left are the surfaces 28 and 29 of two piano-parallel glass plates 30 and 31. The glass plate 30 is fixedly mounted in the housing 14, and the glass plate 31 is disposed in a slide 32 that may be displaced in a box 33, fixed to the housing 14, parallel to the focal plane of the objective 16 at the left. Each of the surfaces 28 and 29 next to each other has a line mark (Figure 10). As a consequence, the one mark, denominated 34, is stationary and the other, denominated 35, displaceable in horizontal direction. To the axle.

21 is fixed an index 37 having a knob 36 and cooperating with a range scale 38 on the housing 14.

In Figures 3 and 9, the rangefinder is assumed to be fixed to the objective board 39 of a photographic camera whose objective 40 is provided with a diaphragm adjustable by means of a knurled ring 41. The mount 42 of the objective is provided in the known manner with an index 43, and the knurled ring 41 bears the appertaining scale 44 representing diaphragm apertures. The slide 32 has a fork 45 into which extends the one arm of a lever 46 rotatable in a bearing 4'! on the objective board 39. The other arm of the lever 46 is provided with a knob 48 that is pressed by means of a spring 49 attached to the objective board 39 against the rear surface of the knurled ring 41, which has a guide member 50.

' The manner in which rangefinders of the described construction are working is known. Through the semi-transparently silvered cemented surface 25 the images projected by the objectives 16 are visible in the ocular 2'7 as covering each other, and the images in the object space that are at different distances have different parallax. By turning the index 37 by means of the knob 36 this parallax may be made to disappear for a certain point the distance of which is to be determined. As soon as the two images of the point cover each other in the field of view of the ocular 27, the index 37 indicates on the scale 38 the distance of the point from the instrument. The distance apart of the two marks 34 and 35 corresponds to a definite parallax, that is to say to a definite parallactic angle. This value may altered according to the diaphragm aperture of the objective 40, because altering the diaphragm, aperture by rotating the knurled ring 41 entails that the lever 46 with the knob 48 is pressed by the spring 49 and adjusted according to the varied height of the guide member 50. As a consequence, the slide 32 and glass plate 31 as well as the line mark 35 are displaced horizontally, the line mark 34 remaining in its position. The smallest distance apart of the two line marks 34 and 35 is to have such a length that, when the diaphragm is completely open, it indicates the parallax of the images of an object point imaged by the objective 40 as the greatest admissible circle of dispersion when the object 40 sharply images the object point aimed at by the rangefinder. The guide member 50 and the ratio of transmission of the lever 46 are to be so chosen that reducing the diaphragm aperture entails that the distance apart of the line marks 34 and 35 is increased to that parallax which pertains to such points in the object space that are imaged behind the object to be photographed, whose two images may be made to cover simultaneously the line marks 34 and 35, respectively. The range difference of the two object points found in this manner comprises that part of the object space within which all points are still i sharply-imaged by the objective 40. Accordingly,

the diaphragm aperture for the photographic objective 40 is determined by means of the line marks 34 and 35 foga photographic object of a definite depth.

I claim:

1. A monocular self-contained base rangefinder for photographic purposes, comprising a casing, jt'wo objective prism systems, two=objectives for projecting two object images in.their-'- focal planes, respectively, a reflecting system for? combining the imaging ray pencils, an ocular,

- the fogal plane of the said ocular coinciding with the focal planes of the said objectiveathe said optical elements being supported in the said:

casing,- one of the said objective prism systems beingretatable about an axis at right angles to .;the optical axis of one of the said objectives,

arid aglass plate so fixed in the casing that one of its surfaces coincides with the focal plane of one of the saidobjectives, a mark being provided in the said focal plane coinciding with the saidsurface of the glass plate, the said mark indicating a straight line parallel to the base of the rangefinder, this line corresponding to the parallax between the images of two object points at different distances from the observer.

2. In a rangefinder according to claim 1, another glass plate parallel to and in proximity of the first said glass plate, the said mark consisting of two elements, the distance apart of the two elements corresponding to a linear distance parallel to the base of the rangeiinder, this linear distance corresponding tothe parallactic angle difference between two object points at different distances from the observer, the said two elements of the mark being provided on the adjacent surfaces of the said two glass plates, the said other glass plate being displaceable parallel to the first said glass plate for varying the said linear distance, and means for moving the displaceable glass plate.

3. A photographic camera containing a photographic objective, an adjustable diaphragm provided on the said objective, means for adjusting the said diaphragm, and a monocular self-contained base rangefinder according to claim 1 fixed to the camera, the said rangeflnder containing .another glass plate parallel to and in proximity of the first said glass plate, the said mark consisting of two elements, the distance apart of the two elements corresponding to a linear distance parallel to the base of the range finder, this linear distance corresponding to the parallactic angle difference betweentwo object points at different distancesfrom the observer, the said two elements of-themark-being provided on thev adjacent surfaces of the said two glass plates, the said other glass plate being displaceable pa'rallel to' the firstsaid glass'plate for varying the said linear distance, means for moving they-displaceable glass plate and other means for so'coupling the said means for adjustin'g the said adjustable diaphragm to the saidmeans'i'or moving the displaceable glass plate that the distance of the two elements of thesaiclmatrk is -=increased according to the "decreasevof-the.length of the diameter of the aperturepf the said diaphragm and vice versa. 41A- stere'oscopie rangefinder for photographic'purposes, comprising a casing, two objective prlsms'ystems, twov objectives for projectihg' two object images in their focal planes,

.ir'espectively, two reflecting systems and two oculars, the focal planes of the said oculars colnciding with the focal planes of the said objectivesg'resheetively, two glass plates so provided in the said. casing that one of the surfaces of these glass plates coincides with the focal planes of the said objectives, respectively, at least one of the said glass plates being displaceable in the direction of the base of the rangeflnder, and two mark elements provided on the said surfaces, respectively, of the said glass plates, the stereoscopical mark obtained by stereoscopic combination of the said two mark elements lying at the apparent distance of (an object point having a distance from the observer which is different from the distance of the adjusting plane of the rangefinder from the observer.

ERNST WANDERSLEB. 

